“That just proves he’s treacherous to his own kind. Why the fuck should I trust him with my family?”
Jackson’sjaw ticks at that. Looks like I’ve hit a nerve.
Instead of hiding behind Seiji, the warlock steps forward, planting himself directly in front of me.
Fine. He gets a point for the bold move.
“It’s an honor to stand before you, Princess.” He bows, and my eyes nearly bug out. Then he turns to Angel and bows again, though his gaze flicks nervously to my mate. “Forgive me for crossing the portal without following the proper protocol, Horseman Conquer. But the matter was urgent.”
“It must’ve been, if you valued it more than your life,” Angel replies calmly.
Jackson glances at Seiji, who nods in reassurance.
Angel catches the exchange and raises a brow at me.
“I was Visha’s personal guard.” Jackson blurts out, his hands held out in front of him like he’s afraid we’ll kill him before he can explain. “I was with her the night she blasted Anisha with outrageous amounts of black magic and ordered my commander to dump her outside the Griari empire.”
I… did not expect that.
“The Dragon King is my uncle on my mother’s side. I thought if I had enough information, then maybe he’d be able to stop whatever Visha was planning.” Jackson pinches the bridge of his nose. “But Anisha sensed me, and I lost her trail.”
He swallows hard. “Then I saw the explosion. By the time I reached it, Anisha was gone, and all of you were hurt and unconscious. I knew it was only a matter of time before my commander and his Deviants came to either collect or kill you. So I did the only thing I could.”
He looks me square in the eye. “I teleported you back to your kingdom.”
Excuse the fuck out of me.
Seiji catches my stunned expression and pleads with his eyes to keep an open mind. I wanted to bash this warlock’s skull not even a minute ago, and now I’m being forced to reevaluate my stance. I’m not sure how I feel about that.
Is one good deed enough to change what I think of his kind?
“Then where have you been for the past two weeks?” Angel cuts in, suspicion thick in his tone. Thank Fates. I didn’t want to be the only bad guy here.
Trusting a witch? Not happening in this life.Right?
“On my deathbed.” Jackson drags a hand through his hair, and I don’t miss the way it trembles or the fresh scars on the back of his palm.Light magic bearer.
“The spell I used to teleport the four of you nearly killed me. I only woke up two days ago, and who knows better thanyouhow hard it is to escape a coven.”
Ah fuck. Now I have to give him another point for literally saving my family and risking his life. And he can joke about my stay with the coven. Shit.
I narrow my eyes at him, smirking when a bead of sweat rolls down his temple. “So why betray your own kind?”
I need to know he’s not like the witch-bitches I grew up around.
Jackson bows his head, shame flickering across his face. “After what they did to you and so many others, why wouldn’t I? I’m not the only one who despises Visha and her ways, but opinions mean nothing in her coven. We’re nothing but rule-following puppets for that tyrant. Disposable if we say too much.”
Damn it. I hate that I’ve learned to sympathize.
Even when every word rings true, I hesitate. At the end of the day, he’s still one ofthem.
His people destroyed my and Harvey’s lives. They carved scars into my son’s heart so deep he’ll carry them forever. They may have only touched the three of us directly, but their poison ruined so many lives in the chain effect.
I haven’t seen my papa in years because ofthem. Harvey losthis parents because ofthem. August lost his family, his pack, and the future he was destined for because ofVisha.Grace and Angel have mates they’ll have to carry emotionally for the rest of their lives.
Every choice Visha made altered the entire course of my life.
So, can I trust a man who shares their blood?
